Auckland Airport has
welcomed today’s announcement of a proposed alliance
between Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines and the
decision by Singapore Airlines to progressively introduce an
A380 daily service to Auckland.

Glenn Wedlock, Auckland
Airport’s general manager aeronautical commercial, says,
“It is important to celebrate both the additional capacity
from the A380 services and the capacity growth and improved
connectivity this alliance would deliver if it receives
regulatory approval. This decision is no doubt influenced by
the strong performance of the South East Asian routes into
Auckland which have seen high passenger loadings of more
than 85%, on average, this past year.”

Auckland Airport
estimates that the total additional capacity arising from
both the alliance and the use of the A380 on the
Singapore-Auckland route to be at least 100,000 seats in the
first year, and significantly more once the A380 becomes a
daily service. Singapore Airlines’ decision to
progressively introduce an A380 aircraft daily service on
the route provides at least an extra 40,000 of those seats
in that first year.

“Auckland Airport welcomes the
commitment of both Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines to
grow the Singapore-Auckland route, and we congratulate Air
New Zealand on transforming its pre-existing business
relationship into a strategic partnership with one of the
world’s largest carriers.”

“Today’s announcements
also strongly support Auckland Airport’s ‘Faster,
Higher, Stronger’ business strategy to grow travel markets
and unlock growth opportunities in travel, trade and tourism
for New Zealand.”

“Our focus on growing emerging
markets such as India and Indonesia, as well as Australia
and the Americas, provides passengers with greater choice,
more convenient flight schedules and better value for
money.”

“It is also really great to see further
evidence of the tourism industry’s shared commitment to
deliver on New Zealand’s aspirations to grow air services
as outlined in the New Zealand Tourism Industry
Association’s ‘Tourism 2025’ strategy. There is a real
sense that the industry is focused on working to deliver
growth for the country. Air New Zealand’s and
Singapore’s announcements are fantastic examples of this
aspiration.”

Singapore is a critical hub airport,
providing New Zealand with access to South East Asia and key
tourism markets such as India and Indonesia. Passenger
movements between New Zealand and Singapore have grown by
10% in the past 12 months. In the past three years passenger
movements between New Zealand and India have increased by
11% and between New Zealand and Indonesia they have
increased by 39%.

“Today’s announcements strengthen
Auckland’s position as an Australasian hub airport, and it
will provide us with further opportunities for building even
greater connectivity in tourism and trade for New
Zealand.”

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